Brewers Defeat Cubs 9-5 Despite Struggling Start From Jacob Misiorowski

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski tied his career highs for runs and walks allowed on Wednesday night in Chicago, but his team overcame an early deficit to beat the Chicago Cubs 9-5. The victory extended Milwaukee’s lead over the second-place Cubs in the National League Central division to nine games.

Misiorowski Struggles Amid High Humidity

The 24-year-old right-hander, considered a favorite for the National League Cy Young award, struggled with command over four innings in hot, humid conditions at Wrigley Field. Misiorowski allowed five runs, five hits, and four walks while throwing 92 pitches. His earned run average rose to 1.97 following the outing.

The Cubs scored early against the second-year pitcher. In the first inning, Chicago third baseman Alex Bregman hit a two-run home run to tie the game after Misiorowski walked Pete Crow-Armstrong. In the second inning, Misiorowski walked Crow-Armstrong again before Bregman drove in two more runs with a bases-loaded single. Misiorowski recovered to throw scoreless third and fourth innings, finishing with five strikeouts—matching his lowest single-game total of the season.

“Didn’t feel wonderful,” Misiorowski said after the game, adding, “Felt soggy the whole time.” Brewers manager Pat Murphy highlighted Misiorowski’s control issues, noting that the pitcher lacked command of his fastball and slipped on the mound early in the game. “All in all, he’s going to learn a lesson from this,” Murphy said.

Milwaukee Bullpen and Offense Take Control

Milwaukee’s offense took the lead for good in the fourth inning, while five bullpen relievers shut down the Cubs over the final five innings. The Milwaukee relief corps allowed only one hit to secure the team’s second consecutive victory in the four-game series. Misiorowski described the bullpen’s performance as “Electric” after the game.

Prior to the start, Misiorowski had taken the unusual step of throwing a bullpen session on the Wrigley Field mound on Monday to refine his mechanics ahead of the road game. Despite the difficult start, Crow-Armstrong, an NL MVP candidate, remained without a career hit against Misiorowski after striking out against him in the fourth inning.

Injury Scare for the Cubs

Chicago faced a late injury scare in the top of the ninth inning when reliever Jacob Webb was struck on the forearm by a line drive off the bat of Christian Yelich. Webb immediately departed the game, but X-rays were negative. Cubs manager Craig Counsell reported after the game that Webb suffered a bruise, stating, “He’s in a little bit of pain and has a big bruise.”

The four-game series concludes on Thursday night in Chicago, with high temperatures expected to remain above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Background

The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs are division rivals in Major League Baseball’s National League Central. Pitcher Jacob Misiorowski is in his second major league season and has positioned himself as a leading candidate for the Cy Young Award, given annually to the top pitcher in each league. Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs is currently considered a leading contender for the National League Most Valuable Player award.